Saturday, April 17, 2004
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

ROYCE FEOUR: Holyfield just won't give it up

Oh, no, it looks as if Evander Holyfield is going to fight again. Worse, the 41-year-old might fight for a heavyweight belt.

As illogical as it sounds, the four-time former heavyweight champion has signed another promotional contract with Don King, who controls three of the four heavyweight titles. King could give Holyfield a shot at one of his champions by fall.

Doesn't that make you think boxing is a wonderful sport?

Let me emphasize my great respect and admiration for Holyfield. If any fighter I ever covered had courage and desire in equal measure, it was Holyfield. He was a great overachiever. He beat Mike Tyson in 1996 at the MGM Grand Garden, dominating throughout before stopping Iron Mike in the 11th round. Holyfield was beating Tyson again in the 1997 rematch when Tyson was disqualified.

Holyfield was a terrific champion, winning the undisputed heavyweight title from an overweight James Douglas in 1990 at The Mirage, and also winning title bouts over George Foreman, Larry Holmes, Riddick Bowe and Michael Moorer during a Hall of Fame-worthy career.

But enough is enough. Actually, enough was enough years ago. That opinion is virtually unanimous among the boxing press, which wants what is best for Holyfield.

There is no question that what's best would be retirement. Holyfield made a lot of money in the ring and he should sit back and enjoy himself. He doesn't need to knock himself out in training trying to get in shape, let alone get knocked out again.

It was easy to admire Holyfield in his prime, but his prime has long since passed. In his last eight fights, he is 2-4-2. How can any fighter with that kind of record and two straight losses be regarded as a legitimate contender?

But this is boxing, after all, and King could have Holyfield challenge for Lamon Brewster's newly won WBO title. Or if Fres Oquendo beats John Ruiz tonight for the WBA belt, look for a possible Oquendo-Holyfield title fight.

Since his loss to James Toney six months ago, which followed a loss to Chris Byrd, Holyfield dismissed trainer Don Turner and split with Jim Thomas, his attorney and management adviser, who had been with Holyfield since 1991. Thomas didn't want Holyfield to fight anymore.

"I simply feel the risk-reward ratio for him continuing to fight until he regains all three major titles -- which is his goal -- is not worth the risk," Thomas said. "He is one of the great heavyweight champions of all time. I don't think winning the titles one more time is going to add much to his legacy.

"At this stage of his career, there is a certain undeniable risk of continuing to fight. I think he is so talented and has so much to offer in so many other areas, I prefer him to move on to other places where he can spread his message."

But now Holyfield has new advisers, and I guess they can make money by continuing to push a proud, determined man back into the ring to take another beating. The almighty dollar beats everything else.

Holyfield is obsessed with not only winning one heavyweight belt again, but with being undisputed champion. What are the odds of that happening?

It's one thing to hang around as an old sportswriter, but quite another to hang on as a professional fighter. I covered Holyfield when he was still a cruiserweight and never thought I would beat him into retirement, but it looks as if I will.

Royce Feour's boxing column is published Saturday. He can be reached by phone at 383-0354, fax at 383-4676 or e-mail at rfeour@reviewjournal.com.